The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM) at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Adeleke Adewolu has highlighted some of the way the new new National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025 will affect businesses positively in the country.
The NCC’s Commissioner, while speaking at a breakout session at the 2021 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt said the new National Broadband Plan will deliver a minimum of 10 Mbps in rural areas and a minimum of 25 Mbps in urban areas to every Nigerian at an affordable price and quality.
“The new National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025, which has four critical pillars: Infrastructure, Policy, Demand Drivers and Funding/Incentives is unique in many respects. One is the fact that it clearly defines ‘broadband’ for Nigeria as “connectivity delivering a minimum of 10 Mbps in rural areas and a minimum of 25 Mbps in urban areas to every Nigerian at an affordable price and quality,” he said.
He believes that the impact of connectivity on businesses and the economy, in terms of the impact of internet connectivity on businesses and the national economy is well documented, stressing that 10 per cent increase in mobile broadband penetration results in approximately 0.6 per cent to 2.8 per cent rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
On the other hand, he said the Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2021-2025 is a template developed by the NCC to streamline regulatory focus for better efficiency, in alignment with relevant policy instruments.
“For the next five years, the Commission is focusing its energies on five strategic pillars. These are: Organizational renewal for operational efficiency and Regulatory excellence; Provision of infrastructure for a digital economy which fosters national development; Improved Quality of Service (QoS) for enhanced Consumer Quality of Experience (QoE); Promotion of fair competition, inclusive growth, increased investment and innovative services; and Strategic Collaboration and Partnership,” he emphasised.
According to him, in recent years, the telecom sector has consistently driven the growth of the Nigerian economy and has provided critical infrastructure powering the digital transformation of practically all spheres of life.
Adewolu said that in the second quarter of 2021, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector sustained its growth trajectory and contributed 17.9 per cent to national GDP. He attributed this to the growth in the telecoms sub-sector. “This trend demonstrates how much our industry is supporting the achievement of Government’s drive to diversify Nigeria’s economy and to ensure inclusive growth across all other sectors,” he said.